Historic Birthplace Of Henry David Thoreau Adds Solar

Thoreau Farm, the birthplace of Henry David Thoreau, has installed a solar energy system on its Concord, Mass., property. Solect Energy, which provided the installation for free, says it will own the 7 kW system and donate the power to Thoreau Farm at no charge.

“Our partnership with Solect brings an innovative, sustainable approach to supplying electricity to Thoreau Farm,” states Ken Lizotte, president of Thoreau Farm’s board of directors. “Our renovations over the past several years have attempted to capture Thoreau’s ideals and apply them to the 21st century. We believe solar fits into the simple, yet contemporary approach we are trying to bring to the house. ”

In addition to Solect’s donations, Canadian Solar contributed panels for the ground-mount system and Yaskawa – Solectria Solar donated the inverter.

Thoreau Farm’s move toward solar began a decade ago when plans were first implemented to rehabilitate and renovate the 18th-century farmhouse where transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau was born 199 years ago. Thoreau, famous for writing “Walden; or, Life in the Woods,” is also known as the father of the modern-day environmental movement.

With the help of Concord’s Green Team – consisting of area sustainability professionals – Thoreau Farm made use of a series of green efficiency materials, including an electric heat pump for heating and cooling, environmentally sound shingles, a rainwater collection unit, a greywater disposal system, and a composting toilet. The solar installation represents the latest chapter in the sustainable rehabilitation of the farmhouse.